Tributes have been paid to a young Co Tyrone man who died suddenly on Christmas Eve.

Mark McGarvey, who was just 26, passed away in his sleep.

Hundreds of tributes were posted on social media following Mr McGarvey's untimely death.

One friend said: "My heart goes out to the McGarvey family, a gentleman and a true friend that brought so many smiles to countless faces."

Another added: “You were one of a kind, the life and soul of any room you entered, but most of all you where a caring and thoughtful person, and you’ll be missed by so many.”

Mr McGarvey's devastated family asked for donations in lieu, if desired, to the Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke Foundation.

On Christmas Eve, Mark's dad, George McGarvey, posted on Facebook: "It's with a heavy heart that I'm informing my friends and family that our youngest son, Mark passed away in his sleep early this morning.

"Mark had been in good enough health and the suddenness of his death is even more difficult to deal with."

He added: "The 100’s of kind messages posted have been a great source of comfort to us all."